[dolstein]

This product was announced to great fanfare back in September of 2020. It was originally supposed to ship in May of 2021. In August of 2021, a shipping update was sent out indicating that units would begin shipping in October. The Mytek web site currently states that the Empire is "backordered with demand exceeding supply" and that the current wait time "is up to 45 days."

I pre-ordered my unit in April 2021 and still haven't received it. I also noticed that the retail price on Mytek's web site has increased to $24,995 (up from $19,995). I pre-ordered one of the first 25 units at a special discount rate of $14,995 (50% down, remaining 50% due at time of shipment). That could turn out to be a real bargain - provided that Mytek actually makes these units and they actually work as described. Or it could turn out to be a disaster if Mytek goes out of business and I lose my deposit.

I'm just curious to hear from anyone else who pre-ordered the Empire. Has anyone received their unit? I haven't seen any reviews, which suggests that not even review samples have shipped. Not too long ago, Moon Audio had listed the Empire as being in stock, but now the product isn't even listed on their site. The Empire is listed on the HeadAmp site, but with the statement "Pre-Order Now: Ships Early Fall 2021."

 

[ufospls2]

There appears to have been a demo sample at the florida audio expo last weekend.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CaO7F3xI8Ks/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Perhaps the delay has to do with the problems they had with HEM (company they used to be partnered with, also the company behind the Ferrum gear.)

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/a-situation-with-mytek/148949/8

also

"
WARNING about HEM Sp. z o.o. (HEM Electronics) of Poland:
HEM was the contract manufacturer and distributor of Mytek products in European Union. As of Nov 1 , 2020 Mytek stopped doing any business with HEM and discontinued all Mytek products that have been made by HEM. The leading reason were dubious business practices of Mr. Marcin Hamerla, owner of HEM , spanning the last 3 years, which resulted in complete loss of confidence and made any future collaboration impossible.

They include breach of contract, theft and illegal appropriation of Mytek intellectual property, illegal registration of Mytek trademark under HEM ownership in EU without Mytek permission, and concealment of financial transactions and business communications. It also includes a registration of a FAKE Mytek website (which is 1:1 copy of Mytek older website), now owned by Mr. Marcin Hamerla which appears to have been setup in attempt to sell counterfeit old Mytek products.

Mytek considers all trade transaction of old Mytek products with HEM illegal, and any Mytek products made by HEM from now

on, counterfeit.

Mytek will use all legal means to defend Mytek brand and IP including restitution of damages against businesses and persons involved.

Mytek has filed a number of legal action proceedings against Mr. Hamerla and HEM Sp. z. o.o.Mytek expects the legal matters with HEM to be resolved within next several months as the legal action runs its course.

All new Mytek products are manufactured in the US and a new bigger ISO9001 factory in Poland Mytek setup in summer of 2020, which will also provide larger product output and improved product reliability.


Michal Jurewicz, Mytek President and Founder, New York, January 15, 2021
""

 

[vcoheda]

there was a mytek empire at the recent new york show (check pics of that thread), so it does exist but no idea if the unit is in production.

 

[HeadAmpTeam]

 

[Ciggavelli]

Any more news on this? Any release date confirmation? I was doing some research, and if this dac sounds TOTL (DAVE levels or higher) it could be a real game changer. I could get rid of so many boxes. I assume the headphone amp is probably not great, but I have external amps for that. This thing has so many inputs and outputs, and it can hold up to 16tb of music, which is what I would need. Hopefully it'll be at Can Jam NYC 2022, and I can hear it. Thought it won't be ideal circumstances. Still, I'm very interested.